HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-06 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP
MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2017
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressier called the Workshop of the City Commission
to order at 10:20 a.m. on Monday, March 6, 2017 in Conference Room 105, City Hall,
7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Harry Dressler, Vice Mayor Debra Placko, Commissioner Marlon
Bolton, Commissioner Michelle J. Gomez and Commissioner Julie Fishman were in
attendance.
Also in attendance were City Manager Michael C. Cernech, City Attorney Samuel S.
Goren and City Clerk Patricia A. Teufel.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Gomez led the Pledge of Allegiance
1. Presentation to the Mayor and Commission Regarding The No More Tears Project by
Board Chair Dr. Laura Finley. Dr. Finely said the No More Tears Project (NMT) is a not-
for- profit organization that was founded by Somy Ali in 2007. The mission of NMT is to
help people who have been victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Dr.
Finley said no one in NMT draws a salary, they do not maintain an office and all
donations go 100% to assisting the victims. NMT provides individualized treatment for
the victims and their goal is to provide one stop assistance and not bounce people
around. Dr. Finley said over the last nine years they have acquired a large network of
providers and have helped 530 adults and 2,700 children. Dr. Finley responded to a few
questions from the Commission.
2. Public Art Project Update: Public Art Administrator George Gadson and Public Art
Committee Chair Tobey Archer appeared. Mr. Gadson gave a presentation, a copy of
which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Mr. Gadson provided an update on the
University Dr. Overpass Bridge Artwork project, the Significant Sculpture project at the
Woodlands, the Inspiration Way Sculpture project, the Sunset Point Tot Lot Fence
project and the Sunset Point Park Public Art project. Mr. Gadson talked about future art
initiatives, proposed art for Districts 1 and 4, the Spontaneous Art Program and the
Mural Art Program for the Sports Complex. Mr. Gadson and Ms. Archer responded to
questions from the Commission throughout the presentation.
3. Discussion on District Level Initiatives: Financial Services Director Mark Mason
appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office.
Financial Services Director Mason said this is an outgrowth of a discussion at Strategic
Planning and staff is looking for feedback from the Mayor and Commission.
Commissioner Gomez asked how much of the $1,500 has actually been used and
Financial Services Director Mason replied that over the last 5 or 6 years a majority of
the Commission members have not used some of the money. Commissioner Gomez
commented that if the funds were not utilized why increase the amount. Vice Mayor
Placko noted that she used a good amount of her money for the COPS luncheon and
will continue to do so in the future. Commissioner Gomez noted that she has used some
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of the money for her Coffee with the Commissioner meetings and other times she pays
for it out of her own money. Financial Services Director Mason went over the permitted
uses that were contained in the December 22, 2016 memo and explained that if there is
a desire to expand the uses that is what we need to discuss here. Commissioner
Fishman stated that the makeup of the Commission has been changed and what has
been done in the past many not be done in the future. The activity level of the
Commission is going up and more outreach is being done and does not know what
could come up in the future where they could use the additional funds. Commissioner
Fishman said the Commission may want to look at raising the amount of money each
Commission member is given.
Commissioner Bolton said he has already spent most of the $1,500 already because he
does so many things in the community and wants to continue to reach out to the
residents so they feel included and are receiving some level of attention. Commissioner
Bolton stated that he believes the amount should be increased. Commissioner Bolton
talked about some of the things he has been doing in his community and that he would
like to do more like hiring an ice cream truck in order to distribute ice cream to the
children. Commissioner Bolton said the people who want to do more are being stifled.
Commissioner Bolton said if some of the Commission members don't want to spend
their money that is fine but don stifle people who do use it. There was a discussion
between Commissioner Bolton and Commissioner Gomez regarding spending the
money and the perception of the people.
Mayor Dressler said he feels there are ethical issues that have to be dealt with and if
you paid attention during ethics training you would understand that there are gray areas
for us to avoid. Mayor Dressler said what we do can be a problem as people will look at
what you spend when you go for re-election. Someone can nail you for what you spend
and the appearance of buying votes. Mayor Dressler said it might be prudent to ask for
an objective legal opinion from the City Attorney's Office. Mayor Dressler said he
doesn't want to deny Commissioner Bolton doing things in his community but wants to
make sure it is done properly. Mayor Dressler asked the Commission to think about
what you want do. Mayor Dressler asked staff to identify what can be done as he does
not want something to come back and adversely affect the Commission. Mayor Dressler
said if the amount of funds is increased and he doesn't use it he could still be criticized.
City Attorney Goren said if the Commission were to increase the amount of money the
Commission would have to take the appropriate action to approve it and there will have
to be some clarification of the uses. Mayor Dressler said we need to get a sense from
the Commission of what we have to identify as additional uses of the money.
Commissioner Bolton said he is not thinking about what will happen in four years and
who will vote for him and what he does he does out of the goodness of his heart as he
wants to give people good vibes whether or not they voted for him. Mayor Dressler said
what you do impacts on the rest of the Commission and what we do impacts on you and
the City. Mayor Dressler said he is looking for clarification on what you could do without
getting you or anybody else into trouble.
City Attorney Goren said that to the extent that you have asked for a legal opinion or
memorandum regarding the expenditure of public money for municipal or public
purposes it is fact driven. City Attorney Goren said just to suggest spending money on
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a global set of items is not how we do Legal Opinions and Safe Harbor Opinions.
Mayor Dressler asked for a Legal Opinion regarding if it is okay if Commissioner Bolton
can go out with an ice cream truck and the City pays for it in one District. City Attorney
Goren said because those facts alone may not be sufficient to answer the question.
Those facts coupled with other activities connected to Commissioner Bolton's public
actions or yours may matter in the context of how I would look at that Opinion.
City Manager Cernech said both staff and the City have a good sense of where you are
going and the whole issue needs to be a little better defined. City Manager Cernech
asked for time for staff and the City Attorney to sit down and talk about this with
Financial Services Director Mason and come back to you with a more specific proposal.
City Attorney Goren said he will be happy to work with Administration on this. Mayor
Dressler asked for a consensus from the Commission to have staff come back with a
more specific proposal, all were in agreement except for Commissioner Bolton.
4. TR12912 - In -Kind and In Cash Support and Waiver of Fees - Tamarac Chamber of
Commerce Arts & Crafts Festival: Item No. 6 (d) on the Consent Agenda. (TR112912) A
Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, approving a request
from the Tamarac Chamber of Commerce for in -kind and in cash support and to waive
fees for the Tamarac Chamber of Commerce 2017 Arts & Crafts Festival to be held in
and around the Tamarac Community Center, along 57th Street, Saturday -Sunday, April
1-2, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in an amount of approximately $12,950;
providing for permits, proper insurance, execution of a hold harmless agreement, and
an executed lease agreement; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and
providing for an effective date. Parks & Recreation Director Greg Warner and Tamarac
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Peter Mason appeared. Parks & Recreation
Director Warner said the Resolution is to approve a request from the Tamarac Chamber
of Commerce to provide in -kind, in cash support and waiver of fees for the 2"d Annual
Arts & Crafts Festival in the amount of $12,950. Parks & Recreation Director Warner
went over a list of the support items that the City would be providing. Mr. Mason gave a
presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's office. Mr. Mason responded
to a few questions from the Commission.
5. TR12905 - Execution of Agreement with Murphy Pipeline Contractors, Inc. for the
University Drive Water Main Upgrade Project (Pipe Bursting) Item No. 6 (c) on the
Consent Agenda. (TR12905) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of
Tamarac, Florida, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to accept and execute a
Purchase Order Agreement between the City of Tamarac and Murphy Pipeline
Contractors, Inc. utilizing pricing from an agreement obtained through a formal
competitive process by the Allied States Cooperative, Education Service Center (ESC)
Region 19, RFP Number 13-6903 for an amount not to exceed, $933,598.60 for the
replacement of 4,059 linear feet of water pipe together along with 22 existing fire
hydrants and 3 new fire hydrants on the east side of University Drive from NW 77th
Street to Southgate Boulevard; a contingency of 10% or $93,359.86 will be added to the
project account for a total amount of $1,026,958.46 authorizing the appropriate City
Officials to administer the contract; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and
providing for an effective date. Public Services Director Jack Strain and
Purchasing/Contracts Manager Keith Glatz appeared. Public Services Director Strain
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gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Public Services
Director Strain responded to a few questions from the Commission.
6. TR12914 - Opposition to Removing Federal Tax Exempt Status to Municipal Bond
Interest: Item No. 6 (a) on the Consent Agenda. (TR12914) A Resolution of the City
Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida opposing any effort to reduce or repeal the
federal tax exemption on interest earned from municipal bonds, authorizing the Mayor to
execute a letter in support of maintaining the present tax exempt status of municipal
bonds; authorizing the delivery of this resolution and letter to the Florida Delegation to
Congress and to Senators Nelson and Rubio; providing for conflicts; providing for
severability; and providing for an effective date. Financial Services Director Mark Mason
appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office.
Mayor Dressler said this is not just about municipalities and given the infrastructure
crises in this country it would be devastating to the taxpayers in the community.
7. Other Business
There being no further business to come before the City Commission for consideration,
Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 12:21 p.m.
Patricia Teufel, CM
City Clerk
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